A leading organisation is seeking a Key Account Manager to join their Sales team in Johannesburg. This role offers you the opportunity to make a significant impact by planning, organising, coordinating, and controlling activities within a designated sales territory. You will be instrumental in driving growth through nurturing customer relationships, delivering service excellence, and responding to current and future client needs. The position covers both strategic and key reseller portfolios, as well as the management of company-owned assets across a national footprint. If you are passionate about building lasting connections, thrive in a communal environment, and value diversity, this is your chance to contribute to an organisation that prioritises collaboration, training opportunities, and supportive leadership.
What you'll do:
As a Key Account Manager based in Johannesburg, you will play a pivotal role in shaping the success of your sales territory. Your day-to-day activities will involve creating comprehensive account plans that foster long-term relationships with both strategic resellers and key clients. You will be responsible for meeting ambitious targets related to acquisition, retention, profitability, and asset optimisation. By leveraging CRM tools for prospecting new business opportunities and collaborating closely with internal teams such as credit management and operations, you will ensure seamless service delivery. Your analytical skills will be crucial in monitoring market trends and competitor activity while providing valuable insights during forecasting cycles. Compliance with safety standards (SHEQ) is paramount as you manage company-owned assets across multiple sites. Through proactive contract reviews and regular communication with stakeholders, you will maintain high levels of customer satisfaction. Success in this role requires an enthusiastic approach towards collaborative teamwork, attention to detail in planning activities, and commitment to upholding organisational values around diversity and inclusion.
Develop detailed action-based key account plans focused on customer relationship management, retention, and growth aligned with organisational strategy while ensuring service excellence.
Meet or exceed targets for customer acquisition, retention, volume, gross profit, costs, overdues, and working capital applicable to your sales portfolio.
Optimise returns through negotiation and effective execution of offers to customers within the reseller channel strategy.
Participate in the development and implementation of market sector strategies affecting customers within your portfolio.
Implement global customer strategies locally as agreed by senior management to ensure alignment with broader business objectives.
Prospect for new customers using CRM tools to increase market share in line with the reseller channel strategy.
Work closely with the credit team to manage credit extension to customers including credit limit reviews, avoiding bad debt, and reducing overdue percentages.
Provide timely input into forecasting cycles to ensure adequate inventory for your customer base.
Maintain strong existing customer relationships while proactively developing new ones through regular engagement and contract review.
Ensure compliance with all organisational policies and procedures including consignment policies where stock is held on customer sites.
Monitor market and competitor behaviour; analyse trends and pricing environments to highlight risks or opportunities for senior management.
Manage company-owned infrastructure portfolio ensuring compliance with safety standards (SHEQ), PQ requirements, and internal guidelines.
Collaborate with cross-functional teams such as assets and operations managers to drive value for the organisation through retail and depot network developments.
Requirements:
Demonstrated ability in customer relationship management with proven experience developing detailed account plans aimed at retention and growth.
Logistic excepience, advantageous
Strong collaborative skills enabling you to work effectively across teams including credit management, operations, suppliers, communities, and other stakeholders.
Commercial acumen combined with a customer-focused mindset that allows you to optimise returns through negotiation while delivering value-added solutions.
Advanced analytical skills for evaluating customer behaviour, market trends, pricing environments, risks or opportunities relevant to your portfolio.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills enabling clear expression of ideas across diverse audiences internally and externally.
In-depth knowledge of the petrochemical/energy/mining industry is advantageous but not mandatory; willingness to stay up-to-date with industry trends is essential.
Proficiency in Excel spreadsheets as well as systems such as SAP for reporting account status metrics or sales forecasts.
Minimum undergraduate degree/National Diploma in Marketing/Sales & Commerce or Engineering required; additional qualifications are beneficial.
At least 10 years' experience in Key Account Management within Sales/Marketing/Business Development preferably in petrochemical or mining sectors.
Ability to manage time effectively across multiple priorities including asset management compliance (SHEQ), contract reviews, site performance analysis.